Contact lenses

Abstract

The invention provides silicone hydrogel contact lenses that exhibit reduced back surface debris and reduced incidence of superior epithelial arcurate lesions.

1. A silicone-containing contact lens comprising a center stiffness of about 1 psi·mm 2  or less, wherein the lens exhibits an advancing contact angle of less than about 80 degrees and said contact lens is formed from a polymer reaction mixture comprising at least one monomethacryloxypropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein b is an integer from 0 to 100; R 58  is a monovalent group containing a ethylenically unsaturated moiety; each R 59  is independently a monovalent alkyl, or aryl group, which may be further substituted with alcohol, amine, ketone, carboxylic acid or ether groups; and R 60  is a monovalent alkyl, or aryl group, which may be further substituted with alcohol, amine, ketone, carboxylic acid or ether groups. 
     
     
       2. The contact lens of  claim 1  wherein b is an integer from 8 to 10, R 58  is a methacrylate moiety; each R 59  is methyl; and R 60  is selected from the group consisting of C 1-10  aliphatic or aromatic group which may include hetero atoms. 
     
     
       3. The contact lens of  claim 1  wherein R 60  is selected from the group consisting of C 3-8  alkyl groups. 
     
     
       4. The contact lens of  claim 1 , wherein said lens further comprises an internal wetting agent selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polylactams, polyimides, polylactones, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The contact lens of  claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable mixture further comprises poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidinone). 
     
     
       6. The contact lens of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(maleic acid), poly(itaconic acid), poly(acrylamide), poly(dimethacrylamide), block or random copolymers of (meth)acrylic acid, acrylic acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid with any reactive vinyl monomer, carboxymethylated polymers, such as carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate), polysulfonates, polysulfates, polylactam, polyglycolic acid, polyamines, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       7. The contact lens of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(maleic acid), poly(itaconic acid), poly(acrylamide), poly(dimethacrylamide), block or random copolymers of (meth)acrylic acid, acrylic acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid with any reactive vinyl monomer, carboxymethylated polymers, such as carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, poly(2-hydroxyethyle methacrylate), polysulfonates, polysulfates, polylactam, polyglycolic acid, polyamines, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       8. The contact lens of  claim 7 , wherein the coating is poly(acrylic acid), poly(acrylamide), or poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate). 
     
     
       9. The contact lens of  claim 1 , wherein the lens provided comprises a center stiffness less than about 0.5 psi·mm 2 . 
     
     
       10. The contact lens of  claim 1  wherein said polymer reaction mixture further comprises at least one hydrophilic monomer. 
     
     
       11. The contact lens of  claim 10  wherein said hydrophilic monomer is selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N-vinylpyrrolidone, 2-vinyl-4,4′-diethyl-2-oxazolin-5-one, methacrylic acid and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylamide. 
     
     
       12. The contact lens of  claim 1  wherein said lens is formed from a polymer reaction mixture comprising at least one linear, branched or star macromer. 
     
     
       13. The contact lens of  claim 1 , or  12  wherein said lens is formed via direct molding. 
     
     
       14. The contact lens of  claim 13  wherein said lens is treated with water, a solvent or both after direct molding. 
     
     
       15. The contact lens of  claim 1 , or  12  wherein said reaction mixture further comprises at least one diluent. 
     
     
       16. The contact lens of any of  claim 1 , or  12  wherein said lens is plasma coated.